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Pa. Senate advances bill allowing moratorium on data center development
Stacy Wescoe//June 30, 2026//
Listen to this articleA bill that would help municipalities better control data center growth in their community has advanced out of the Senate Local Government Committee and heads to the full Senate for a vote.
Senate Bill 1345, sponsored by Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh, allows municipalities to place a moratorium on data center development applications.
“I hear from my constituents almost every day about their concerns with data center projects,” said Coleman in a release. “My legislation empowers local communities to push the pause button on data centers in order to regulate these projects on their own terms.”
If passed by the state legislature, the bill would give municipalities the option of placing an 18-month moratorium on both unapproved and new data center applications so they can revise zoning ordinances and establish policies addressing issues like power supply, water consumption, noise and setbacks which they determine protect the community’s interests.
Coleman said as it stands now municipalities are struggling to fully understand the complex environmental and community impacts of this new industry while also reviewing and revising their zoning ordinances to keep up with the influx of interest from data center developers.
“We have a chance to get this right, and my legislation will give our communities the breathing room they need to do it,” said Coleman.
